JACK THE RIPPER MEMORABILIA GOES UNDER THE HAMMER

It's a specialist market, for sure, but if you've a relative or pal with a penchant for historic crime memorabilia, Towcester-based auctioneers JP Humbert have the answer to your Christmas present woes. Mind you, you'll need a pretty penny if you want to snap them up. On Wednesday (Dec 10), four items related to the historic Jack the Ripper murders go under the hammer. A leather City of London Police notebook cover, police-issued truncheon, whistle and handcuffs all carried by PC Edward Watkins, 881City on the night he discovered the mutilated body of Catherine Eddowes are up for sale. PC Watkins came on duty to patrol the Mitre Street area at 9.45pm, Saturday, September 29, 188. He was continuously patrolling this beat from 10pm until he discovered Eddowes' body in the South-West corner of Mitre Street at c.1.44am. He was last in the square at c.1.30am. She was the fourth in a series of horrific killings. The collection of items have remained in the same family for three generations - the vendors Grandfather bought them directly from the Watkins family. "It is chilling to think that these very rare items may have physically been only yards from 'Jack the Ripper' and played such an integral role in one of the most fascinating unresolved crimes of all time," said Jonathan Humbert. "Ripper items are rarer than rare by their very nature and I have no doubt that these items will really capture the public imagination around the world. "The fact that the items have provenance, and are of the correct age and have been privately owned for so long really helps to give them added value," he added. Each of the items will be offered for sale independently, and are estimated at £500 to £800. For more details visit www.jphumbert.com